Verbena plant named ‘Visulvena’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its light lavender flowers, early flowering, double incised leaves and a habit that is extremely spreading.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Visulvena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘X845-1’ and ‘W723-3’. ‘X845-1’ is a purple flowering Verbena having a semi-erect habit. ‘X845-1’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘W723-3’ is a light pink flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘W723-3’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘X845-1’ nor ‘W723-3’ have been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2002 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones, 7, 8, 9 and 10 is it a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks old plants blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 10.5 cm container.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Visulvena,’ its parents and a similar cultivar ‘Visulvena’ ‘X845-1’ ‘W723-3’ ‘Vilena’ Flower color Light lavender Purple Light pink Violet purple Flower size Small Small Medium Small Plant habit Vigorous Strong Compact Strong

The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Babylon carpet blue.’ The patented name of this variety is ‘Vilena’ and its U.S. Plant Pat. No. is 12,279.

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Verbena×hybrida.         -   Parentage.—Female parent : A seedling named ‘X845-1’ is one             of our seedlings from our X-generation of plants. Pollen             parent: A seedling named ‘W723-3’ is one of our seedlings             from our W-generation of plants.         -   Growth habit.—Spreading, decumbent.         -   Plant height.—12-16 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—60-75 cm.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Number of branches per plant.—23-48.         -   Blooming period.—From April until November. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—1.5-2 mm.         -   Length.—14-18 cm.         -   Shape.—Tetragonal.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Color of the stem.—143A.         -   Length of internode.—18-47 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Length lateral branches.—23-42 cm. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf margin.—Lacineate.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—16-28 mm.         -   Width.—10-20 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—10-16 mm.         -   Number of incisions.—4-8 per leaf.         -   Color.—Upper side: 137B. Lower side: 141B.         -   Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present.         -   Length of petiole.—5-8 mm.         -   Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Petiole diameter.—1 mm.         -   Petiole coloration.—141B. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle length.—30-90 mm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—2-3 mm.         -   Peduncle color.—141C.         -   Budsize.—Diameter: 1 mm. Length: 8-10 mm.         -   Budshape.—Elongated and ovate.         -   Bud color.—155D.         -   Sepals.—Color (upper side): 137C. Color (Lower side): 137C.             Form: Upright. Number: 5, fused. Length: 6-9 mm. Width:             2 mm. Shape: Elongated. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire. -   The flower:     -   -   Flower diameter.—10-15 mm.         -   Flower height.—14-16 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—12-15 mm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—2-3 mm.         -   Flower throat color.—155B.         -   Inflorescence.—Corymb.         -   Flower-form.—Single, salverform, sessile on terminal             corymbs.         -   Petal color.—Upper side: N87D, a bit lighter. Lower side:             85C.         -   Eye.—A very small (1 mm) whiteish Eye (N155C) is present on             the three lower petals at their base.         -   Overlapping of petals.—Separate.         -   No. of petals.—Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.         -   Petal apex.—Obcordate.         -   Petal base.—Fused.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Size of the petal.—Length: 5-6 mm. Width: 4-5 mm.         -   Inflorescence.—Length: 35-55 mm. Diameter: 20-30 mm.         -   Calyx length.—12-14 mm.         -   Calyx diameter.—3-4 mm.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Absent.         -   Color of the calyx.—137B.         -   No. of flowers per inflorescence.—30-40.         -   Fragrance.—A very light rosy fragrance is present.         -   Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to             open in one corymb over a period of 24 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—2-4 days. -   The reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther             length: 1 mm. Anther color: 145A. Pollen amount: No pollen.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 2.0-2.4 cm.             Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144B. Style length:             1.9 cm. Style color: 144C. Ovary color: 144C. -   Seeds: No seed set is observed. -   Roots:     -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous, color 155C. Roots start to grow on             every part of the stem that contacts the soil, so not only             at the nodes. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Good tolerance to heat     and cold. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Visulvena,’ as substantially illustrated and described herein. 